individualisme

Forms

individualisme m (plural individualismes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French individuel + -isme.^[2][1][3] Littré derived it instead from individualiser.^[4] The adjective is from Medieval Latin indīviduālis.^[1] The first record is from 1825 according to the TLFi and the Grand Robert; the GLLF gives 1826, in the newspaper Le Globe, and Bloch and Wartburg 1833.^{[2][3][5][6][7]}

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1825 Rouen used it in Le Producteur for the theory that sets the individual above society.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

From this political and moral sense it came to name (1834, Boiste) an attitude that favours individual initiative, reflection and independence, and then (1839, Balzac) a tendency to selfishness.^[2][8] In 1904 it became a term of sociology for the theory that explains historical and social facts through the conscious, self-interested action of individuals.^[2][8] Littré defines it as a system of isolation in existence, the opposite of the spirit of association.^[4] The noun individualiste followed a parallel course.^[8]

Timeline

• 1825 – First recorded, in Le Producteur, for the theory of the individual's primacy.^[2][8]
• 1834 – Boiste records the sense “independence of mind”.^[2]
• 1839 – Balzac uses it of selfishness.^[2][8]
• 1904 – E. Halévy uses it as a term of sociology.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A doctrine or tendency that makes the individual the supreme value and the basis of society and morals.^[2][9][10]
2. (politics, economics) A theory that puts the rights of the individual before those of society.^[9][5][11]
3. (sociology) The doctrine that explains social facts by the conscious action of individuals.^[2][9]
4. An attitude of independence and nonconformity: l'individualisme de ce chercheur.^[11][10]
5. (pejorative) Selfishness, a refusal to act as part of a group.^[2][10][11]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
11. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)